The talk will last approximately 45 minutes and will be held in English, with an opportunity for audience questions. Seating is arranged in a circle in the center of the space with chairs and designated spots for wheelchairs and bean bags. Due to limited capacity, please arrive early to secure your spot.
In this event, artist Saša Asentić invites you to an open conversation about key themes in the performance Dis Giselle at MUNCH, as well as his artistic practice and research on the aesthetics of access. Asentić will be joined by collaborator and artist Mandana Kouros, cultural worker and researcher in disability and gender studies Milesa Milinković, and curator Katrine Elise Agpalza Pedersen. Collaborator and artist Jelena Stefanoska will also be present. In the audio performance and installation Dis Giselle, Saša Asentić with collaborators explore how accessibility tools can become both an aesthetic and political gesture. When sight is not the determining factor, sound can become a crucial element in experiencing dance. Dis Giselle places accessibility at its centre – not as an addition, but as the artistic expression itself. The conversation will examine Dis Giselle and its themes through the framework of feminist disability theory, in order to open new perspectives on movement, identity, and social norms. Dis Giselle is a part of Saša Asentić’s PhD research fellowship at Oslo National Academy of the Arts. About the participants:
Saša Asentić (b.1977, Derventa/Bosnia-Herzegovina, former Yugoslavia) is a non-disabled choreographer, researcher and cultural worker, based in Oslo. Asentić works in the field of contemporary dance, performance, and disability arts. His artistic practice is based on the principle of solidarity, and resistance against cultural oppression and indoctrination. Allyship and long-term collaborations play a crucial role in his work. Asentić is an initiator of Per.Art organization, which gathers a group of disabled and non-disabled artists that challenge and counter ableism in dance and culture since 1999.
Mandana Kouros (b.1991, Houston, USA) is a multidisciplinary artist and performer with Down syndrome, based in Tehran, Iran. Kouros’ work moves between painting, poetry, sculpture, and performance, seeking to reveal the dialogue between body, image, and emotion. A central concern in her artistic practice is advocating for the inclusion of artists with Down syndrome, ensuring their active presence and creative participation in the arts. Kouros collaborates with the Tan.Arts collective in Tehran.
Milesa Milinković (b. 1977, Užice, Serbia) is a feminist disabled researcher and cultural worker, based in Novi Sad, Serbia, whose work is rooted in feminist disability theory. As the Director of the International Film Festival "Seize the Film" (Uhvati film) and a Master of Gender Studies, she focuses on the intersectional analysis of media representation and the social positioning of the body. Milinković bridges the gap between academic theory and cultural practice, offering critical insights into how art and media shape our understanding of identity, accessibility, and human rights.
Katrine Elise Agpalza Pedersen (b.1988, Lørenskog, Norway) is a non-disabled art historian and Curator of Contemporary Art at MUNCH. She has previously worked as a curator and interim director at Kunsthall Trondheim, and was OCA’s "curator in residence 2024" at ISCP in New York City. In addition to being the curator of the upcoming solo exhibition with Katharina Grosse at MUNCH, she has previously curated and co-curated solo exhibitions with artists such as Panteha Abareshi, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Pia Arke, Liv Bugge, and Sin Wai Kin, as well as the group exhibition Sex Ecologies.
Jelena Stefanoska (b.1982, Novi Sad/Serbia) is a dance artist with Down syndrome, based in Novi Sad, Serbia. She has been a member of the organization Per.Art, since 1999. Beyond dance and choreography, Stefanoska creates drawings, paper collages, and costume designs. Along with Saša Asentić, and in collaboration with Olivera Kovačević Crnjanski, she co-created the dance performance Žizela / Giselle (2021).
